Call of Duty

From MLG to Franchising

Call of Duty esports began in the MLG (Major League Gaming) era with legendary players like Scump, Crimsix, and Karma. The scene was wild and open, with teams forming and disbanding constantly. That changed in 2020 with the launch of the franchised Call of Duty League.

The CDL Model

Twelve city-based franchises (each worth $25M+) compete across the season. Teams include OpTic Texas, Atlanta FaZe, LA Thieves, New York Subliners, and more. The structure mirrors traditional sports leagues with regular season, playoffs, and a championship weekend.

Annual Title Changes

Unlike other esports, CoD competitive shifts to a new game yearly. This means teams must constantly adapt, and meta knowledge becomes extremely valuable during the early season. Some teams excel at adapting, others struggle with change.

• 1
  💚 OpTic Texas

  Scump legacy • Most popular org • 2x Champs
  $3.5M
• 2
  🔴 Atlanta FaZe

  Simp, aBeZy • Back-to-back champions
  $3.2M
• 3
  🖤 LA Thieves

  100 Thieves roster • Kenny, Drazah
  $2.1M
• 4
  🗽 New York Subliners

  NYC franchise • Rising contenders
  $1.8M
• 5
  🎰 Las Vegas Legion

  Formerly Paris • NA roster now
  $1.5M

• 1
  🇺🇸 Simp

  Atlanta FaZe • Most dominant player • 2x MVP
  $1.2M
• 2
  🇺🇸 Scump (Retired)

  OpTic legend • CoD GOAT • Most popular player
  $1.1M
• 3
  🇺🇸 aBeZy

  Atlanta FaZe • Entry SMG demon
  $950K
• 4
  🇺🇸 Cellium

  Atlanta FaZe • IGL • Flex star
  $900K
• 5
  🇨🇦 Crimsix

  37 championships • Winningest player ever
  $850K

Call of Duty betting has unique dynamics. The annual title change, tight franchise ecosystem, and player rivalries create interesting betting opportunities.